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SS El Faro

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History
U.S.
Namelist error: <br /> list (help)
Puerto Rico (until 1991)
Northern Lights (1991–2006)
El Faro (2006–2015)[1]
OwnerTOTE Maritime
OperatorSea Star Line
Port of registrySan Juan, Puerto Rico, U.S.[1]
RouteJacksonville, Florida to San Juan, Puerto Rico
Ordered1973
BuilderSun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.[1]
Laid down1974
Launched1974
Completed1975
Identificationlist error: <br /> list (help)
Call sign: WFJK
IMO number: 7395351
MMSI number: 368208000
FateLost at sea in Hurricane Joaquin on October 1, 2015[2]
General characteristics [1]
TypeRoll-on/roll-off cargo ship
Tonnagelist error: <br /> list (help)
31,515 GT
21,473 NT
14,971 DWT
Length241 m (791 ft) (after lengthening)
Beam28.6 m (94 ft)
Depth12.8 m (42 ft)
PropulsionSingle shaft, double reduction compound steam turbine (11,190 kW)
Speed22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)
Crew33 personnel (28 Americans and 5 Poles) on final voyage

El Faro was a United States-flagged, combination roll-on/roll-off and lift-on/lift-off cargo ship. Built in 1975 by Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. as Puerto Rico, the vessel was renamed Northern Lights in 1991 and finally El Faro in 2006. It was lost at sea with all hands on October 1, 2015, after losing propulsion during Hurricane Joaquin.

El Faro departed Jacksonville, Florida, bound for Puerto Rico on the early morning of September 30, 2015, when then-Tropical Storm Joaquin was several hundred miles to the east. The following morning, after Joaquin had become a Category 3 hurricane, the vessel likely encountered swells of 20 to 40 ft (6.1 to 12.2 m) and winds in excess 80 kn (150 km/h; 92 mph) as it sailed near the storm's eye. Around 7:30 a.m., the ship had taken on water and was listing 15 degrees; however, the last report from the captain indicated the flooding to be contained. Shortly thereafter, the El Faro ceased all communications with shore and was declared missing on October 2.

An extensive search operation was launched by the the United States Coast Guard, with the Air Force, Air National Guard, and Navy providing assistance. Debris, a damaged life boat, and an unidentifiable body were recovered in their search before the El Faro was declared sunk on October 5. The search was called off at sunset on October 7, by which time more than 183,000 sq nmi (630,000 km2; 242,000 sq mi) had been covered by aircraft and ships.

Construction and earlier career

El Faro was built by the Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Corporation in Chester, Pennsylvania, in 1975 as Puerto Rico. In 1991, the ship was renamed Northern Lights; two years later, it was lengthened by 90 feet (27 m) at Alabama Shipyard, Inc.[1]

Originally operated by the Navieras de Puerto Rico Steamship Company, the Puerto Rico hauled cargo to and from the U.S. East Coast for more than two decades.[citation needed] The vessel was purchased by TOTE Maritime in Tacoma, Washington, renamed Northern Lights, and placed in service between Tacoma and Anchorage, Alaska.[citation needed] Northern Lights continued to sail between these two ports until the early 2000s, when the ship was chartered to the Military Sealift Command of the United States Navy.[citation needed] The ship was later transferred by TOTE to its subsidiary company Sea Star Lines and renamed El Faro. It then returned to coastwise liner service between Jacksonville, Florida, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.[citation needed]

Sinking

See also: Hurricane Joaquin

Final voyage

Life ring recovered on October 3

On September 30, 2015, at 2:00 a.m., El Faro left Jacksonville, Florida for San Juan, Puerto Rico, carrying a cargo of 391 shipping containers, about 294 trailers and cars, and a crew of 33 people—28 Americans and 5 Poles.[2] The ship's master, Captain Michael Davidson, charted a course that, according to TOTE, took the vessel a reasonable safe distance away from the hurricane.[3] At the time of departure, Hurricane Joaquin was still a tropical storm, but meteorologists at the National Hurricane Center forecast that it would likely become a hurricane by the morning of October 1, on a southwest trajectory toward the Bahamas.[4] The vessel's charted course took it within 175 nmi (320 km; 200 mi) of the storm, where seas in excess of 10 ft (3.0 m) were likely.[5]

Former crew members of the El Faro expressed surprise and shock that the vessel set sail with a major storm in its course. Contrary to statements by TOTE, they claimed the vessel to be "a rust bucket" that "[was not] supposed to be on the water."[3] The El Faro suffered from drainage issues and leaking was common in the cook's room. Additionally, they claimed the ship was covered in rust and its decks filled with holes in August.[3]

Hurricane Joaquin

Satellite image at 11:45 UTC (7:45 a.m. EDT) on October 1 depicting the approximate final position of the SS El Faro in relation to Hurricane Joaquin

Throughout September 30 into the morning of October 1, Joaquin continued to track farther southwest than forecast.[5] Just 10 hours after departing, the El Faro was steaming at full speed and deviating from its charted course. According to Klaus Luhta of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots, Davidson continued to head directly into the storm.[6] Joaquin became a hurricane by 8:00 a.m. on September 30, then unexpectedly rapidly intensified.[5][7] The storm reached Category 3 intensity by 11:00 p.m., packing maximum sustained winds of 100 kn (185 km/h; 115 mph).[8] Around 7:30 a.m. on October 1, less than 30 hours after the ship sailed from Jacksonville, the United States Coast Guard received a satellite notification that the vessel had lost propulsion, taken on water—though flooding was contained at the time of the message—and had a 15-degree list.[9] According to TOTE, the loss of propulsion is what ultimately sealed the fate of the El Faro, leaving the vessel helpless within the approaching hurricane.[3] Near the same time, the Coast Guard also received a single ping from the ship's Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon.[10] Subsequent attempts by the Coast Guard to open communications with El Faro were unsuccessful.[11]

Marine Traffic's last reported position of El Faro was 24°16′29″N 74°56′43″W / 24.2747°N 74.94522°W / 24.2747; -74.94522 (El Faro's position at 4:01 a.m. on October 1) at 4:01 a.m., heading south-southeast at 19 kn (35 km/h; 22 mph).[12] According to a different marine positioning database, relayed by Reuters, the final relayed position of El Faro was 23°31′N 74°01′W / 23.52°N 74.02°W / 23.52; -74.02 (El Faro's position at 7:56 a.m. on October 1) at 7:56 a.m.,[5] about 35 nmi (65 km; 40 mi) northeast of Crooked Island.[13] This placed the vessel within the eyewall of Hurricane Joaquin, situated near 23°12′N 73°42′W / 23.2°N 73.7°W / 23.2; -73.7 (Location of Hurricane Joaquin at 8:00 a.m. on October 1) at 8:00 a.m., where winds in excess of 80 kn (150 km/h; 92 mph) and waves of 20 to 30 ft (6.1 to 9.1 m) likely battered the ship.[5][14]

Search operations

Conditions during the search for the El Faro on October 2 as seen from a Coast Guard HC-130

On October 1, Hurricane Hunters aircraft tried to locate El Faro without result.[15] On October 2, a Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircraft began a dedicated search for the ship.[11] The USCGC Northland and a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter joined search efforts later that day.[16] Aircraft on October 3 flew in violent hurricane conditions, characterized by winds in excess of 100 kn (185 km/h; 115 mph) at an altitude of 1,000 ft (300 m), waves up to 40 ft (12 m), and visibility less than 1 nmi (1.9 km; 1.2 mi). Despite the hazardous conditions, a helicopter crew recovered a life ring from the vessel on this day.[17] Conditions markedly improved on October 4 as Joaquin moved northeast away from the Bahamas; winds averaged 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph) and visibility was unlimited.[18] Taking advantage of the clear weather, the helicopter remained in flight for 11 hours, requiring refueling twice.[13] A second HC-130, the USCGC Charles Sexton, and the USCGC Resolute were deployed that day.[18] The Northland and Resolute continued operations overnight with engineers using night vision goggles to take part in the search.[13][19] The United States Navy provided P-8 fixed wing aircraft to assist on October 5; three Crowley Maritime tugboats also joined.[20][21] Search operations were conducted at a near-continuous pace by this date.[13]

On October 5, an unidentifiable body in a survival suit, presumed to be from El Faro, was recovered.[22] Several other unopened suits were recovered.[23] A deflated life raft and a heavily damaged lifeboat—one of two aboard the El Faro, each capable of carrying 43 people and stocked with food and water for a few days—with no one aboard were also found.[13][22] The vessel was declared lost at sea on this day, believed to have sunk 15,000 ft (4,600 m), and the search turned into a search-and-recovery effort.[2][24] The United States Air Force and Air National Guard provided three additional C-130 aircraft on October 6.[25][21] A total of 183,000 sq nmi (630,000 km2; 242,000 sq mi) of water was covered in search of the vessel.[21] Two debris fields were discovered: one covering 260 sq nmi (890 km2) situated near the El Faro's final position, and the other spanning 61 sq nmi (210 km2) located 60 nmi (110 km) northeast of the first debris field. At sunset on October 7, the Coast Guard announced the cessation of search operations.[21][26]

On October 7, a Navy salvage team was requested, at the behest of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), to search for the wreckage.[26] Florida Senator Bill Nelson wrote a letter to the NTSB urging them to look into TOTE Maritime's policies regarding severe weather.[27] Nelson also cited that the vessel's lifeboats were "outdated and inadequate for the conditions the crew faced."[23] TOTE Maritime established a fund for families of the crew on October 9 through the Seamen's Church Institute of New York and New Jersey.[28]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "El Faro (7500285)". ABS Record. American Bureau of Shipping. Retrieved 2015-10-04.
  2. ^ a b c Lizette Alvarez, Richard Péréz-Peña, and Frances Robles (October 5, 2015). "U.S.-Based Cargo Ship With Crew of 33 Sank in Storm". The New York Times. Miami, Florida: The New York Times Company. Retrieved October 10, 2015.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b c d Steve Almasy and Yasmin Khorram (October 9, 2015). "El Faro had leaks, holes, other structural issues, former crew members say". CNN. Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  4. ^ Daniel P. Brown (September 30, 2015). Tropical Storm Joaquin Discussion Number 9 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d e Jeff Masters (October 7, 2015). "Last Known Position of the Missing Ship El Faro: the Eyewall of Category 3 Joaquin". Weather Underground. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  6. ^ "Doomed cargo ship reportedly left normal course, sailed into the track of Hurricane Joaquin". Fox News. Fox Entertainment Group. Associated Press. October 9, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  7. ^ Jack L. Beven (September 30, 2015). Hurricane Joaquin Public Advisory Number 10-A (Advisory). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  8. ^ Daniel P. Brown and Stacy R. Stewart (September 30, 2015). Hurricane Joaquin Public Advisory Number 13 (Advisory). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  9. ^ "Update 2: Coast Guard Searching for Container Ship Caught in Hurricane Joaquin". Miami, Florida: United States Coast Guard. October 3, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  10. ^ Dennis Hoey and Beth Quimby (October 5, 2015). "Coast Guard finds debris field of missing cargo ship with Mainers on board". Portland Press Herald. MaineToday Media. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  11. ^ a b "Coast Guard Searching for Container Ship Caught in Hurricane Joaquin". Miami, Florida: United States Coast Guard. October 2, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  12. ^ "El Faro". Marinetraffic.com. October 1, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  13. ^ a b c d e Frances Robles (October 7, 2015). "Coast Guard to Suspend Search for Survivors of El Faro". The New York Times. Jacksonville, Florida: The New York Times Company. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  14. ^ Jack L. Beven (October 1, 2015). Hurricane Joaquin Public Advisory Number 10-A (Advisory). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  15. ^ "Coast Guard searching for missing cargo ship out of Jacksonville". WJAX-TV. Jacksonville, Florida: Cox Media Group. October 2, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  16. ^ "Update: Coast Guard searching for missing container ship caught in Hurricane Joaquin". Miami, Florida: United States Coast Guard. October 2, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  17. ^ "Update 2: Coast Guard Searching for Container Ship Caught in Hurricane Joaquin". Miami, Florida: United States Coast Guard. October 3, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  18. ^ a b "Update 4: Coast Guard Searching for Container Ship Caught in Hurricane Joaquin". Miami, Florida: United States Coast Guard. October 4, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  19. ^ "Update 5: Coast Guard Searching for Container Ship Caught in Hurricane Joaquin". Miami, Florida: United States Coast Guard. October 4, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  20. ^ "Update 5: Coast Guard Searching for Container Ship Caught in Hurricane Joaquin". Miami, Florida: United States Coast Guard. October 4, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  21. ^ a b c d "Coast Guard to suspend search for El Faro crew after 7-day search". Miami, Florida: United States Coast Guard. October 7, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  22. ^ a b Jason Dearen and Jennifer Kay (October 5, 2015). "One body found, empty lifeboat located in search for crew of El Faro". The Boston Globe. Jacksonville, Florida: John W. Henry. Associated Press. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  23. ^ a b Ethan Calloway and Vic Micolucci (October 10, 2015). "Sen. Bill Nelson meets with NTSB on El Faro investigation". WJXT. Jacksonville, Florida: Graham Media Group. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  24. ^ Erik Ortiz, Elisha Fieldstadt, and Tom Winter (October 5, 2015). "El Faro, Cargo Ship Carrying 28 Americans, Believed to Have Sunk". NBC News. NBCUniversal. Retrieved October 10, 2015.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  25. ^ "Update 9: Coast Guard Searching for Container Ship Caught in Hurricane Joaquin". Miami, Florida: United States Coast Guard. October 6, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  26. ^ a b Mariano Castillo, Holly Yan, Eliott C. McLaughlin, and Steve Almasy (October 7, 2015). "El Faro search ends, Coast Guard says". CNN. Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved October 10, 2015.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  27. ^ Senator Bill Nelson (October 8, 2015). "[Senator Bill Nelson's letter to the National Transportation Safety Board]" (PDF) (Press release). WJXT (Graham Media Group). Retrieved October 10, 2015. {{cite press release}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  28. ^ Emily Reiter (October 9, 2015). "TOTE Establishes Family Relief Fund at Seamen's Church: 10-9-15". Jacksonville, Florida: TOTE Maritime. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
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